To Where Are We Running?

Life is full of twists and turns, of choices and options, of dos and don'ts but still each day brings opportunity. A chance to correct that which may have been wrong, to fix that issue that has gone unresolved. Life is tough but it is not unbeatable, nothing is.

We typically seek relief from any pain, large or small, in any way that we can. Some seek relief through alcohol, others through drugs and some through both. A social drinker says that they only drink during social occasions but they do not define what a social occasion is to them. Is it when you are with a few friends or is it when you wish to relax after a long day? While I can understand this excuse, I strongly believe that it is more to escape something and the question remains the same. To where are we running and from what or whom are we trying to escape?

A drug addict says that drugs allow them to survive from day to day and the drugs allow them to deal with life's twist and turns. It begs to question as to what or where are we running to or from when those same twists and turns will not be erased after a day or night of doing drugs. How could allowing drugs to overtake your body, for relief of that day's trials and tribulation, be a suitable replacement? While I understand taking aspirins for relief of a headache or prescriptions for whatever ails you but to do more than what is required for that relief still begs the question. To where are we running and from what or whom are we trying to escape?

Growing up I used to sit and watch my father spend his nearly every waking moment with alcohol. It got so bad that he lost his family, friends, many different jobs and eventually his life. I used to ask him about the ghosts that haunted him and lead him to seeking relief through alcohol. He had no real answer and it seemed that the ghosts who were chasing him earlier that day had multiplied when he opened his eyes after that night. The ghosts seemed to patiently wait by the side of his bed until he rose the next morning before the chase started all over again. I later learned that my father's mother died when he was really young and maybe that's where the chase began. Maybe he blamed himself or my grandfather for her death but we would never know for sure. It could be why he was running.

Everyone experiences ups and downs in life but surrendering should never be an option, whether it's to drugs, alcohol or life itself. As a single father, I look around my home sometimes and wonder if I am going to be able to pay my bills and put food on the table for my family. I worry about that for a few minutes before I let go and let God. There are certain things that I can control and things that I can't. Those things that I can, I do wholeheartly and for those that I can't I turn them over to my God. My business has been suffering just like small businesses all over this nation. I do my part and stay out of the way so that God can do his. A few days ago, I secured a second job as a debt collector for a Fortune 500 company. There was no way that I knew exactly what to do to make that happen on my own. I do know that every night I prayed and the prayers were answered. My running days are over, I will stand and face whatever curve life has to throw because I know that I will never be in the batter box alone.

We all have or are still running. This question still remains to where are we running?